Dedication: To my muse, Tiger, as always. And also to Mariann and Kris who were kind enough to be my temporary betas for this.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Lily is a people watcher. And lately two people have been catching her attention.
Spoilers: OotP
Disclaimer: This is not my vision of the puppies world, I promise. As such I am not JK nor am I associated with the owners of this material in anyway. Except maybe mutual acceptance that while we don't like each other we need each other, a bit anyway.
Archive: SBRL F-Q-F, SBRL mailing list and FFNetFugitive when the fest concludes. Others, please ask.
Warning: Cannon!Lily, not so keen on James and calls the boys by their last names only.
Feedback: CCGod@opendiary.com or onlist at SBRL or FFNetFugitive
***

 

I will admit I watch them. Everyone does. They're the popular boys... the life of every party. And frankly Sirius, James and Remus are rather attractive. Not that I'll admit that to Potter mind you. But lately it's not Potter I've been watching. No, lately it's Lupin and Black that have caught my attention. Not when they're being outrageous and causing trouble to every intelligent creature in the castle. Mostly when they're idle. Like the other night. As we were all starting to go mad from studying for our O.W.L.s, Potter stood on a table and announced that the lot of us could use some fun. He said that he and Pettigrew would return with refreshments soon and it was up to the rest of us to decorate for the party. When Potter and Pettigrew were out of the room the two of them spent a few moments sitting before the fire together, discussing the book Lupin was studying. This caught me as especially odd as I'd thought Black was illiterate. But I digress. I watched them every so often as the night went on. They'd stop when they could hide what they were doing from Potter and Black would help Lupin study for a few minutes. This was almost always stopped when Potter swept them into whatever merriment he was making. They'd shoot longing glances at each other and the spot they'd occupied and then join in. After that I started to see those longing glances more and more often when they were with Potter and Pettigrew. And being a curious girl I wanted to know what they were about obviously. So I started to watch a little more often. I was waiting for a chance, same as they were, for them to be truly alone. And it came last night. Potter had a detention for something and Pettigrew was in the hospital wing with a bad herbology wound. I got close enough to listen as Potter left and heard Black tell him, "Don't call tonight, I've got a date."

Potter responded, "Anyone I know?"

Black chuckled, "You could say that. Don't wait up."

Potter grinned at him and left. A few minutes later Lupin and Black made their way out of the common room. I followed at a discreet distance as they made their way through the castle and out on to the grounds. They looked around cautiously and took each other's hands.

They made their way to the forest and followed a path they clearly knew well. I was caught up in my pursuit that I didn't think twice about following them. They stopped in a clearing and Lupin sat against a tree. Black arranged himself on the ground and settled his head in Lupin' lap. "You wanted to talk Love?" He asked calmly.

Lupin took a deep breath before replying, "I think it's time we tell James and Peter about us Siri. Look I know you wanted this to be just between us and see where things took us and I was fine with that, I still am. But now I think it's time we stopped hiding in shadows, and scurrying back to our own beds in the morning. I don't mean that we should tell everyone, far from it, just our closest friends."

"I know what you mean Rem, and I love you with all my heart, there's nothing I'd like more than to spend every possible moment in your arms but..." He took a very deep breath and sat up, staring into Lupin's eyes. "What if they take it badly Rem? What if they turn their backs on us?" His voice was shaking, and he sounded so vulnerable and scared, I could scarcely believe it was Sirius Black speaking.

"Oh Siri, after the way the three of you reacted to my secret how could this drive them away?" Lupin replied in a soft, reassuring tone.

"Peter needed convincing of that you know," Black murmured quietly, "was dead scared until James told him you were the same as you'd always been. And well you know how Pete is about anything Jamie tells him. Might as well be gospel."

"Then it's only James that needs to react well and you two are practically brothers. I don't think he could turn his back on you if he wanted to Siri, and if we let him see how much we mean to each other I don't think he'll want to. He might tease us a bit, but what else would you expect of him?" Lupin spoke very calmly, but I could tell he was worried. "Can it wait a few more days Rem? C-Can we tell him after O.W.L.s?" Black asked in that scared voice.

"Of course it can Sirius. If you're not ready to tell him at all I'll accept that. I'm just starting to hate it more and more that you slip out of bed every morning and leave me cold and alone. I mean doesn't a nice early morning shag sound lovely?" A mischievous gleam came to Lupin's eyes then.

"Sounds positively brilliant but I suspect it also has a bit to do with the lost snuggling time, after all you are a hopeless romantic Love," Black replied before kissing Lupin. "I'm a hopeless romantic because you kiss me like that Siri," Lupin returned when they broke apart.

"I kiss you like that," He demonstrated with another soft, sweet kiss. "So that you'll kiss me like this," This kiss was deeper, more urgent, quickly dissolving into heated snogging.

I watched in interest and admiration, clearly I hadn't given either of them enough credit in more ways than one. Clearly they cared deeply for each other, something I hadn't thought them ready for because of Black's aloof nature and Lupin's shy facade. But also they were both far more experienced at what they were currently doing than I had thought as well. And frankly watching them I was suddenly on the side of the many girls who would be disappointed to find them irrevocably unavailable. With that thought I sighed and left them as Black's shirt found it's way to the ground.

 

Three days after we finished our O.W.L.s Lupin and Black came into the common room with their hair dripping wet. Potter laughed and asked, "What happened? Someone push you gents into the lake?"

"No, nothing like that," Lupin told him with a faint smile.

"It doesn't really matter what happened to us, but we could use a word James," Black said in a voice that reminded me of his fear a few days earlier.

Potter looked at him with a concerned expression, evidently having heard the fear just as surely as I had, "Sure Sirius. Well go upstairs, I'm sure Peter will clear out."

Lupin shook his head, "Let's not bother Peter. We can go out on the grounds."

"You guys are freaking me out you know," Potter said as he led the way out of the common room. All three of us followed him out. Me at a distance of course.

They made their way to the tree beside the lake and I settled myself among the nearby bushes.

As they sat down Potter made an impatient noise, "Come on now, you two are acting as if you've told McGonagall all about the time we slipped dung bombs under her chamber door."

"We would never!" Black objected automatically.

"We're just worried about what you'll think of what we have to say," Lupin explained quietly.

Potter made an accepting noise and there was silence for a moment. Then he sighed, "Out with it or I'm going upstairs."

"Well you see James, there's something we've been keeping from you," Black said very quietly.

"It's not that we didn't trust you. We just needed time to figure things out between us before letting anyone else know what was going on..." Lupin added quickly.

"You see James..." Black seemed to hesitate. I shifted to watch as well as listen. He took Lupin's hand and started again, surer, "We've been together for over a year now James."

"That's what you dragged me out here to tell me?" Potter asked calmly. "All you had to do was say it."

"You're not upset?" Black tried hopefully.

"Why should I be?" Potter returned smiling. "You wouldn't tell me if you were just screwing around and last time I checked it was not an odd reaction to be happy for your friends when you find out that they're in love."

Lupin blushed, "It shouldn't be. Thank you James."

Black grinned like the idiot I'd always thought he was, "Yeah Jamie, thanks for understanding."

"Of course I understand. How many times do I have to tell you two that you're my brothers?" Potter asked before hugging each of them. "Care to tell me why you both look like drowned rats now?"

Black blushed, "We were just coming back from a bath in the prefects' bathroom."

Potter laughed, "I see. Now I'm going upstairs. Just do me a favor and remember your silencing charms, okay?"

"Definitely James," Lupin assured him as Potter got up and walked away.

"You were right Love, that wasn't so bad," Black said softly as I too slipped away leaving them to each other.

I've looked at Potter differently since that night, perhaps he isn't the git I thought he was if he can see it that way. But only time will really tell. And I'll do one of the things I'm best at, I'll watch and see.