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“Hey Pads! I have a fantastic idea!” James announced as he came striding into the common room, grinning as he caught sight of Sirius playing chess with Remus.
Next to them, Peter was scribbling away at his potions essay, ink smeared across his cheek and forehead. There were a few other Gryffindors nearby but most had learned that the Marauders meant chaos and would rather do their homework in the library or grounds of the castle. Sirius glanced up as he sent his queen to take Remus’ knight, silver eyes shining in the candlelight and a calm but cocky expression on his face.
“What is it, Prongs? Checkmate, Moony.”
James laughed as he pulled a chair around so that he could sit backwards on it, his chin resting on the backrest as he watched their chess match. “Well, I was thinking that it’s hot out but we always go to the lake to cool off, and I know we have potions after lunch, but what if we floo’ed into Diagon Alley and grabbed some ice-cream instead? Ooh, no, scrap that. Why stop at Diagon Alley? We could apparate from there to like Italy or something. I’ve heard Italian ice cream is something else.”
Remus rolled his eyes. “You haven’t been to Italy. No apparating.”
And just like that he turned back to the match and with a heavy sigh, knocked over his king. James sniggered. He knew Remus would be game for ditching potions, of course his only problem was a technicality about apparating. “Fine, we’ll look up the floo network for somewhere in Rome then? Happy?”
“Sure. No one wants to be stuck around a cauldron in this weather. You’d think someone would be able to magic the temperature in the dungeons,” Remus muttered.
“Agreed. Wormtail? You in?”
Peter looked between James and his homework and grinned. “If it means that I don’t have to finish this stinky essay then count me in! I’ve never been to Italy.”
“Molto bene!” James cheered and began to lay out his plan in more detail.
“Hang on, Jamie.”
Everyone froze and stared at Sirius who was rubbing the back of neck with a sheepish smile. “What?”
It couldn’t be. Padfoot wasn’t passing on an attempt of mischief! It was simply unheard of. In all the years they’d been at Hogwarts, Sirius had never once missed a prank or adventure. He’d be the first to jump in, side by side with James at every step, every breath, every unfortunate hospital wing visit.
“I have a date after class.” Sirius was blushing even as he shrugged in a clear attempt at nonchalance.
James gaped. “No. You don’t.”
Because if Sirius had a date, then James would already know about it because they didn’t keep secrets from each other and that was why James was suddenly totally rationally angry. He felt like he was watching the quaffle fall through his fingers, that sinking feeling in his gut, the sting of disappointment. There was a lump in his throat and his fingers grazed the top of his wand, the urge to throw a stunning curse at the next person who looked at him rising in his chest. Sirius’ gaze hardened and he sat up straight, tension flooding into his body in the same way that it did when he saw his parents on the platform at King’s Cross.
“Yes. I do.”
“Who with?
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Fuck you!” James spat, and stormed back out the common room. Stupid tears welled in his eyes as he tore off down the stairs and through the humid corridors of the castle until he reached the edge of the forest. Without thinking he leapt into the treeline, four hooves clattering against the scorched grass.
Who the fuck did Sirius think he was? Of course it mattered. It mattered because if it really didn’t matter, then he would have fucking told James. It was probably one of the countless girls that always seemed to swoon over the pair of them at quidditch practice. But there was an unspoken pact between them - girls didn’t come first.
Maybe he should ask Lily out again? After she’d refused him the first time, James had spent the night drinking his sorrows away with Sirius in their dorm room, nursing his own wounded pride. It had sucked. Half the girls in school wanted to date them, but the one girl he even remotely fancied had shot him down, so he’d decided on the spot he was done with girls until after school. Spending time with his best friend was better anyway - and not just Sirius, Peter and Remus too.
But Sirius was special.
Their friendship was special. There wasn’t a single person in Hogwarts that didn’t know that, even Lily had cited Sirius as one of the reasons for turning him down, admittedly one of many. And now Sirius had a date that he hadn’t even bothered telling James about. The cheek of it!
Sirius was his person and no stupid skirt was going to get in the way of that. Not that he was jealous. There was no reason to be jealous. Everyone knew Sirius loved James best; they were practically soulmates.
Maybe James should have just snogged him instead of running off.
Wait.
Maybe James should have just snogged him.
Now, talking of fantastic ideas! He had no idea why he hadn’t thought of it yet. Sirius was handsome, funny, clever and completely barmy in just the way James liked. Why should it matter that they were both boys? Did it matter?
James scuffed his front hoof on the ground and then trotted in a circle between the trees. Was he into boys in the way he was into girls? He tried to imagine kissing Sirius, the feel of his stubble against James’ cheek, his fingers carding into that thick black hair. If he’d been in his wizard form he would certainly be blushing, but as it was he nearly walked antlers first into a tree.
Right.
Boys were definitely okay with him. Good to know.
He snorted and then just as quickly as he’d entered the forest, he left again, breaking the tree line with his robes flying out behind him. A quick tempus spell told him that he was late for potions and without James leading the way, his friends should still be in sunny Scotland instead of lounging around in the streets of Rome. So he headed towards the dungeons, ready to enact his brand new fantastic plan.
He was going to snog Sirius better than he’d ever been snogged before and then he wouldn’t go on his stupid date and they could go and get ice cream - maybe just the two of them. Like…. A date.
Yes. That was even better. Sirius would get his date and James would get ice cream with his best friend and everything would be okay again.
And so, like the hurricane that he was, James flew into the dungeons. He completely ignored Slughorn’s protests and marched straight up to Sirius, taking his face in his hands, and crashed their lips together. Sirius jumped slightly but soon melted into the kiss, his hands tugging at James’ hair and knocking his glasses crooked as they pressed into his cheek. The pair only broke apart when they were forcibly separated by magic. Their chairs flew across the room and Slughorn glared at them both, his wand out and aimed at James.
“Detention. Both of you. Dumbledore’s office after dinner.”
Oops.
“But-”
“And ten points from Gryffindor for your tardiness, Potter.”
Okay. Well that was fair.
When they were allowed back in their proper seats, James leaned over to whisper in Sirius’ ear. “So. I changed my mind.”
“Oh you did, did you?”
“Mhmm. You do have a date.”
Sirius scoffed, but his hand never left James’ knee. “Who with?”
“Ah. I’m glad you asked. It’s a very important detail actually.”
“Jamie-”
“Exactly! Got it in one. How does Rome sound?”
By that point neither of them were able to contain their laughter, earning another sharp look from their professor. Naturally, they both ignored him and Sirius grinned back at James.
“Ridiculous. I’m in.”