We Were Forever

"Boys! We go through this every month," Madam Pomfrey explained through painful exasperation to the three young Gryffindors who had been pounding on the Hospital Wing door since dawn. "You may come back after breakfast to see Mister Lupin. It is too early to be letting visitors into the infirmary. You shouldn't even be out of bed at this hour!"

"We'll be really quiet," Peter promised hopefully. "We just want to see him-"

"He isn't even awake yet, Mister Pettigrew."

"We aren't going to bother the other patients. We just-"

"Mister Potter, my answer, as always, is no. And Mister Black, before you even bother, my answer is still no!"

Sirius looked mildly offended. "I didn't even say anything-"

"But you were going to," said Pomfrey sternly. "Now, unless any of you are feeling ill or have injured yourselves, go back to your dormitory immediately."

For a split moment, Sirius seemed to want to argue, and James and Peter were prepared, as always, to back him up. But instead, much to their surprise, Sirius turned around, appearing to have given up.

James frowned, "Sirius, what-"

And then, without a second thought, Sirius let out a frustrated cry, balled up his first, and punched the stone wall of the corridor as hard as he could.

"Mr. Black!" Pomfrey gasped, clutching at her heart in shock. James and Peter just stared, jaws and eyes wide open.

Sirius took a deep breath and turned back, cradling his bloodied hand with his good one. He looked the healer straight in the eye and said through gritted teeth, "I'm injured."

—-------

"You did what?!" Remus' face was a mix of horror and bewilderment as his friend explained just what he was doing in the next bed over. "What on earth possessed you to–"

Sirius shrugged. "She wouldn't let us in to see you," his right hand was bandaged up. He had broken three fingers, but you'd never guess from the satisfied grin on his face.

"So you broke your hand?" Remus laughed.

"Technically, just his fingers," Peter corrected, trying to hold back his amusement.

"And got himself a week's worth of detention," James grumbled, perched on the edge of Remus' cot. "You're missing the Quidditch finals, mate. You're going to miss me clobbering Slytherin," he shook his head in annoyance.

"Small sacrifices, Jamie," Sirius smirked, leaning back against the pillows. "I'm sure you'll play just fine without me there to cheer you on in the crowd. I'll make it up to you, eh?"

Remus was still in shock. "I still don't understand why-"

"I did it for you, Moony," Sirius said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. As if anyone would go about breaking their bones just so they'd be allowed into the infirmary to see their friend.

Remus rolled his eyes at the nickname, but he had given up on fighting it weeks ago. He sighed, "Sirius, you can't just go around beating yourself up every month so Pomfrey lets you in to see me," for some reason he couldn't fight the smile tugging at his lips. Foolish as it may have been, he couldn't believe someone would do anything like that for him.

"Ah, but I won't have to!" Sirius informed him, proudly. "Because she's agreed to allow us special visiting privileges with you after the full moon," he gave James a nod as he emphasized once more, "Small sacrifices."

"Fine," James conceded, still seeming mildly put out. "But you owe me."

Sirius waved him off with his good hand. "Yes, of course. Don't worry, James. Just because I did something nice for our little Moony doesn't mean I love you any less."

James shook his head and Remus groaned.

"Seriously, why am I the only one with a stupid nickname?"

Sirius laughed. "Remus, I promise, the day the rest of us suddenly start turning into animals once a month, you can call us whatever you want."

"Very funny, prat."

—-------

"DORCAS MEADOWES HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE QUIDDITCH CUP!"

The crowd cheered wildly around them as the Gryffindor team landed their brooms and dog-piled on top of Dorcas.

Remus and Peter squeezed their way past the hoards of students and teachers in the direction of the locker room.

"Sirius is going to be ticked he missed this one," Peter said, face still flushed from the wind at the top of the stands. "Think he's back from detention yet?"

Remus nodded. "I'm sure he will be once we get back to the dorm. James has been making him feel pretty guilty about not being there, and this was nearly a shutout. He'll be reeling," he chuckled at the thought of James badgering the other boy about how unfair it was of him to miss out on his win of the Quidditch Cup. But there was something in the back of Remus' mind, some strange, proud little whisper, that couldn't help but be a little smug that he was the reason. Sirius had risked being there for something that was important to his best friend in the entire world, James Potter, just so Remus wouldn't wake up alone after the full moon.

After James emerged, grinning like a madman, they headed back up to Gryffindor Tower. "And did you see that interference from Malfoy? Total bollocks! I bet he feels like a right git trying to pull that one off and still losing!" He was practically bouncing as they climbed through the portrait hole. "Oi, Black! You missed- Sirius?"

Sirius wasn't there. And he wasn't in the dorm either.

"That git. There's no way he's still in detention," James said grouchily, throwing his Quidditch robes which went flying and landed on Remus' bed.

"Gross," muttered the werewolf in mild annoyance. He flicked his wand and sent the robes into James' hamper.

"He's probably in the kitchens or something," Peter suggested with a longing sigh. "I hope he's in the kitchens. I'm starving. I hope he brings back something good…"

"Well he'd better not miss the victory party," James huffed before grabbing his towel and heading to the shower.

It wasn't until hours later, when the party was in full swing, that Sirius finally entered the common room with a grin and his book bag, which seemed much fuller than any of them had ever seen it.

"And where the bloody hell have you been all day?" James asked, playfully grabbing Sirius in a headlock. "You miss my big game for detention and then disappear? I should mess up your bloody perfect hair for that one, Black."

Sirius laughed and shoved him off. "You'll be thanking me in a minute, mate. Take a look," he opened the bag for James to see.

"Bloody hell, Sirius!" Gasped James. "Where in Merlin's-"

Sirius smirked and shook his head. "Not telling. The point is I got it. Ready to make this a real victory party?"

Remus and Peter exchanged confused looks until James reached into the bag and pulled out what seemed to be one of many bottles of Firewhiskey.

The two dark-haired boys turned to the rest of the common room and James whistled loudly for everyone's attention.

"Gryffindors! In celebration of our, dare I say, legendary defeat of Slytherin this evening, breaking their three-year winning streak and probably their poor slimy little hearts," a few people whooped and hollered in response to that. "My incredibly generous and resourceful best mate has provided us with drinks!" He held up a bottle. "Firewhiskey!" The common room filled with loud, excitable cheers. "Ladies, feel free to thank Sirius properly, eh?" James threw in a wink and Sirius snorted and punched his arm.

James and Sirius set the bottles out on the refreshments table. Remus was surprised at just how many bottles Sirius had managed to get and he had to wonder exactly where he had managed to get them from. But he put the thought out of his mind when Sirius came and slung one arm casually around his shoulder.

"What do you say, Remus? Wanna get a drink?"

Remus laughed. "I'll take a little I suppose," he took the open bottle from Sirius and took a swig. I burned and made his eyes water and he choked a little. "That's disgusting."

Sirius nodded, still grinning, and grabbed the bottle back from him. He tilted his head back and took a long drink. Remus grimaced. "Have you done this before?"

"Nope," Sirius snickered when he finally lowered the bottle. "Hey!" he shouted in surprise as said bottle was promptly stolen from his hand by Marlene McKinnon.

"Impressive, Black," she shook the bottle teasingly before bringing it to her own lips.

"Marlene!" Said Lily, in what Remus supposed was supposed to be a scolding tone, but the redhead seemed slightly intrigued as well.

Marlene laughed. "Oh come on, Lily… you know you want to as well!" She took nearly as long a drink as Sirius before holding it out to her friend. Lily still looked unsure.

"Yeah, Evans! Live a little!" James shouted from across the room. He was passing his own bottle to Dorcas.

Lily eyed Sirius suspiciously."Where'd you get it?"

A sly smile spread across Sirius' face. "If I tell you, will you actually have fun with us for once in your life, Evans??"

Emerald green eyes narrowed on the dark-haired boy for a moment. "I'll pretend you didn't just insult me, Black," she smiled a little. "But yes."

"I nicked it from my cousin's stash. A well-known fact, dear Auntie has a Firewhiskey problem and doesn't notice when Narcissa packs some bottles away for the school year," Sirius shrugged.

Lily pursed her lips. "And… How did you manage to get into the Slytherin dorms to steal said Firewhiskey?"

Sirius wagged a finger at her. "Uh uh, Evans. You asked where it came from and I told you," He held out the bottle to her. "A deal is a deal. Have some fun."

—-------

They weren't sure what time it was. Most of their housemates had already retired to their dorms. 

Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter sat on the floor in front of the fire, leaning heavily against each other.

"I'm so glad we're all friends though," Sirius was saying, his words slightly slurred and resting his head on James' shoulder.

"You're drunk," James snorted.

"So are you," Sirius argued with a slight pout before switching to Remus' shoulder instead. "Remus… Remus, you're glad we're all friends, right?"

Remus nodded solemnly, he could feel how wide his own eyes were. What a question… "Yes. Yes of course I am. Jamie, why're you being so mean to Sirius? Tell him you're glad we're friends."

Peter giggled. "You're… You're all -hic-"

"Peter, I will give you five galleons if you can finish that sentence," James said, only slurring at the very end of his words. All four of them laughed.

"Well, look at what a fine mess we've got here.." a sing-songy voice interrupted. Marlene plopped herself down to sit cross-legged across from them, followed by Dorcas, Lily, and Mary McDonnald. "The Marauders are utterly zonked, aren't they?" Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were glassy.

"And you're not, McKnickers?" Sirius challenged.

The girl laughed, nearly toppling over. "I never said that."

Lily put a hand on her friend's shoulder to steady her. "Fancy a game, boys?"

James sat up a little straighter and ran a hand through his hair. "What kind of games?"

"It's a muggle game," said Lily, holding up one of the empty bottles. "Truth or dare."