Chapter Text
Sirius Black was a tad dramatic. Maybe just a smidge. People like James would make it seem like Sirius did something to grab someone’s attention every three seconds. That simply was not true. It was not true in the slightest. Sirius is offended that you dare imply that he was a dramatic attention seeker in any way at all. He simply was not. It’s not at all his fault that today just happened to be the day that Remus Lupin had said ‘sure’ to Lily Evan’s invitation to accompany her to the Yule Ball and Sirius was repsonging by laying on the floor of their dorm talking about how he was going to die alone and never meet anyone fantastic ever again. Simply not his fault. James, however, was being a jerk about the whole situation for no reason.
“Pads, they’re going as friends.” James was sitting on his bed. He was explaining his thoughts as though they were the truth and Sirius was merely a toddler. It was quite condescending and offensive. Horrid behaviour, truly.
“You’re just telling yourself that because you want to marry our darling flower and can’t admit to yourself that she might have stolen the one I hold so dearly in my heart.” Sirius crossed his arms.
“Well, first of all, she told me they were going as friends.” James would of course believe anything that amazing and wonderful flower would say. Jerk.
“You asked Lily about it? Creep,” Sirius muttered.
“ Second of all , you know Lily wouldn’t try to date Remus. She knows you like him. You told her. Many, many, many times. And, I didn’t ask about it. She randomly supplied it in casual conversation.” James shrugged.
“‘She randomly supplied it in casual conversation’ is a very suspicious statement, Prongs.” Sirius sat up, now focused on a new and quite interesting topic. James was hiding something.
“I didn’t ask about that specifically .” He didn’t supply any more information.
“What did you do?” Sirius jumped up, quickly making his way to James’ bed and sat next to him.
“I didn’t do anything!” James said these words far too defensively and Sirius is an expert in James speak. He definitely did something.
“James,” Sirius prompted. He wanted to know. No, scratch that, he absolutely without any sort of doubt needed to know this second before he exploded and coated the entire dorm room with a layer of Sirius goo.
“I don’t even know what happened, Sirius. I just… I said ‘hi.’” James ran a hand through his hair.
“... You said ‘hi.’ James, is that actually the end of that story? Did you say ‘hi’ and Lily was overcome with some sort of emotion, possibly prompted by a spell or potion, and said ‘Remus and I are just friends.’ That’s a weird fucking conversation, Prongs. Even for you and Lily.” Sirius was about to laugh. James looked so upset over the entire ordeal.
“Look, Pads, please don’t laugh.” James had a look on his face. He probably embarrassed himself. Alas, Sirius Black is an amazing friend and human and must promise his friend’s wish for the sake of how kind he was.
“Promise,” Sirius said as he raised his right hand. James let out a small laugh.
“It’s just… I’ve realized how bad it was before. Like, bothering Evans – Lily – like that wasn’t cool. And I’ve apologized, you know that. We’re cool now, and everything. But… I still like her loads. So, I thought, maybe, I’d try again. This time in a respectful and gentleman type way. She deserves that sort of thing. She deserves the best, really. But, Lily is… amazing. Like, even more than I thought-”
“Which is saying something,” Sirius interrupted. James shot a brief glare in his direction.
“Anyway, I said I wanted to ask her something after class because I thought she’d want to focus on class and not have to deal with me asking her… on a date because it was potions and she likes to be really prepared and whatever. After potions, I met up with her in the hall. I said ‘hi’ and she was so pretty, Sirius. And she said ‘hi’ back and she was smiling, and my mind just erased everything, I guess.”
“Wait, so what did you end up saying? Judging by your face, I’m sure it was a lovely sentiment about the weather or just another ‘hi.’” Sirius laughed.
“... I didn’t say anything.”
“No, tell me, I won’t laugh, promise.” Sirius raised his right hand.
“You don’t get it, I didn’t say anything. And she said ‘I’m going to the yule ball with Remus’ and that they were going as friends or something like that, I don’t remember.”
“Oh my god, Prongs.” Sirius was trying so hard not to laugh. James was just so ridiculous.
“I’m such an idiot.” James flopped back onto his bed, covering his face with his hands.
“Yeah.”
“You’re not supposed to agree, Sirius.” James was barely audible from behind his hands.
“Every day I thank the lord that I’m not as helpless as you.” Sirius put his hands together as if in prayer. James laughed.
“No offense, but you're more helpless than I am.” James removed his hands, looking up at Sirius.
“I’m not!” Sirius jumped up, glaring down at his friend.
“Let’s recap the past half hour, yeah? You’ve been laying on the floor complaining about the fact that our friends are deciding to go to the yule ball together, but you have never bothered to even try to flirt in the slightest with him.”
“I try all the time!” Sirius pointed a finger at James. “I’m sure he knows.”
“He once asked if you were interested in anyone and you said ‘I need to pee’ and ran to the bathroom.”
“I didn’t expect him to ask that. I wasn’t prepared.” Sirius looked at the floor.
“He once asked for help tying his tie and you said ‘James tied mine, ask him.’” James raised his eyebrows expectantly.
“I wouldn’t want him to think I was any good at it if he was going off my tie. He’d be disappointed.”
“You tied your own tie, you wanker.” James stood up, smacking Sirius’ head.
“Ow, James!” Sirius grabbed at his head.
“Listen, I’m going to go find Peter. We’re supposed to work on our essays together. You go find Remus.” Then he left. Jerk.